Gaja, Barbaresco 2011

Extremely perfumed with roses, dark berries, ash, asphalt, and sliced plums. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a juicy, savory finish. Orange and lemon peel undertones. Gorgeous finish. Hard not to drink now. A beautiful wine. Drink or hold. But why wait?

Crushed flowers, tobacco, sweet spices and red berries lift from the glass in the 2011 Barbaresco. Soft silky and accessible, the Barbaresco is already wonderfully open and expressive, as so many wines are in this vintage. Kirsch, hard candy and floral notes add nuance over time. The style is mid-weight and gracious, with gorgeous aromatic complexity and plenty of brightness, especially within the context of the year.

The 2011 Barbaresco opens to a dark garnet color and shows immediate opulence and intensity where its aromas are concerned. There’s an undeniable level of finesse and focus here that goes against all the things you might assume about a warmer vintage like 2011. The mouthfeel is perfectly tempered and smooth with an incredible sense of liveliness and dimension. Fruit is sourced from Gaja’s many vineyard holdings. Drink: 2017-2035.